2017 Renault Twizy Review

Some people are put off buying some electric and even hybrid cars because they look a bit, well, different. However, some people positively revel in the thought of everyone knowing they're doing their bit for the planet by driving something that's a lot more environmentally friendly than a regular diesel or petrol vehicle. Well, if you fall into the latter category and you don’t need to transport a family around, the 2017 Renault Twitzy could be just what you're looking for. The Twitzy is a futuristic compact electric car, and economic electric car for city driving that falls halfway between being a car and a motorbike, so let's take a closer look.

Styling

Well, if you want different you've got it here with the Renault Twitzy, and you will have to get used to being stared at and pointed at when you’re out and about. At least you will have to until we're all driving vehicles like this at some point in the future. The Twitzy is basically a quadricyle, which is 2.3 metres long, just 1.4 metres wide and has four wheels. It does have two seats, but the passenger sits directly behind the driver rather than at the side. There's a lot more bodywork than you have with a motorbike, and it's largely enclosed so there's a decent amount of protection from inclement weather. The little Renault is fun, it's funky, and it looks more substantial than some vehicles of this type we've seen in the past.

How it drives

You don't ride on the 2017 Renault Twitzy, you do actually drive it. It has a conventional steering wheel, accelerator and brake pedals, and a dashboard with a whole three buttons on it. All things considered, this vehicle is an absolute doddle to drive. There's almost no noise as you get underway, although the distinctive whine of the electric motor soon kicks in. The steering is impressively well weighted, the brakes respond progressively and the turning circle of just 6.8 metres is nothing short of astonishing. The performance isn’t startling by any means, but it's more than good enough for nipping in and out of tight spaces in a built up urban environment. This is a vehicle designed for one specific environment, and it's perfect for the job.

Interior

Depending on how you look at it and whether you go for the optional doors and windows, unlike a motorbike, it can be said the Twitzy has an interior. Windows are available as a dealer-fit option, but they're a lot like tent windows so they'll keep out the worst of the weather but don’t do a huge amount for noise reduction. The instrument display gives you the vital information of speed, remaining battery range and how hard the motor is being worked. Beyond that the interior is pretty bare, which is a very good idea considering how exposed it can be, and hard plastics and water-resistant materials are very much in evidence.

Practicality

Obviously, the 2017 Renault Twitzy isn’t as practical as an Espace or any other Renault model with more seats and storage for that matter. However, the front seat is big enough for the overwhelming majority of people as there's a good amount of head and legroom. In the back it very much comes down to how tall the passenger is, but if carrying a passenger isn’t something you need or want to do the rear seat can be replaced with a 180-litre boot instead. The Twitzy has a 13 kW motor and its battery is good for a range of around 45 miles between charges. Charging a battery from depleted to full will take around three and a half hours from a domestic supply.

The 2017 Renault Twitzy is available right now from Kearys Cork, so don’t hesitate to get in touch for more information and to arrange a test drive in this intriguing little city runabout.